Japan struggles to meet goals for venture capital investments

TOKYO/NEW YORK -- If conversations are anything to go by, 2023 has been a banner year for the Japanese venture capital industry. As China's economy stumbled, international investors looking for exposure to Asian growth companies have turned their attention to Japan, leading to a dramatic increase in discussions about local startups.

"This year, I am going overseas every month basically to meet international venture capital [firms]," said Emre Yuasa, general partner at Globis Capital Partners, a Tokyo-based venture capital firm with 180 billion yen ($1.3 billion) in assets under management. "When I explain what's happening in the Japanese market, they get really, really interested."